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Last week, over 800 youth ministry professionals and volunteers in gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana for the annual ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza. Gathering around the theme of "Dream," speakers reflected on the great dreamers in the Bible and shared hopes and visions for the future church.

Through stories from Disability Ministries, Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations, and the Comission for a Renewed Lutheran Church we dreamed about inclusion and welcome for all of God's children.

We dreamed of peace while singing a song taught to us by a Lutheran Palestinian American and danced to jazz.

Between the general sessions, workshops on Safe Gatherings, AI for Ministry, Innovative Leadership, Inclusive ministries, and more provided the opportunity for continuing education.

If you've never attended the Extravaganza, consider joining us next year. It continues to be one of the best continuing education opportunities for people connected to children, youth, and family ministry.

The ELCA Youth Ministry Network holds the Extravaganza every year. Next January, consider joining us in Louisville, Kentucky January 23-26, 2025.

Lead Musician, Jon Ailabouni: Photo By Pastor Aaron Layne

New Orleans Trolly: Photo By Pastor Aaron Layne

Jenny Frantz (3rd from Left) with fellow youth leaders at Cafe du Monde

How as Lutherans should we understand our relationship to civic life — including government — as individuals and as a church body? After studying the questions for the past three years, a social statement task force has posted a draft social statement on civic life and faith.

Social statements are important documents because they govern church teaching and policies, and support ministries. They also serve as discernment tools for ELCA members as they think about social issues such as civic life.

Between now and Sept. 30, 2024, you are invited to study and give feedback on the draft by filling out an online survey or attending a hearing in your synod, as available. To access the draft and the survey, and to find information on how to host a hearing in your synod, go to www.elca.org/civicsandfaith.



After the feedback period has closed, the task force will revise the draft with attention to the public input and submit a proposed version of the social statement to the ELCA Church Council, which will vote on sending it to the ELCA 2025 Churchwide Assembly for consideration. If adopted at the assembly by a two-thirds margin, the social statement will become official social teaching of this church.

Altar Live: A Zoom Alternative for Churches

Explore a new era of church community engagement with Altar Live–the leading platform designed specifically for immersive and dynamic worship experiences. Made for churches looking to go beyond the limitations of Zoom or Facebook Live, Altar Live opens doors to a realm of interactive possibilities.



Engage your congregation in real-time interactions within a virtual church layout, fostering a sense of togetherness. Dive into small group activities through breakout rooms, and effortlessly navigate worship services with user-friendly event management tools. Altar Live aims to be more than a platform; it's a movement reshaping ordinary services into moments of heightened connectivity and fellowship in the age of hybrid churches.

Check out their website at the button below to learn more about making online or hybrid worship services an opportunity for genuine connection and spiritual enrichment.

The first meeting of the Hunger Team Affinity Group is tomorrow, January 25, 2024. To receive the Zoom link, and for more information, email Pastor Leonard Killings at hunger@neos-elca.org.

Growing In Faith is a ministry within the ELCA committed to fostering learning environments for followers of Jesus to grow in faith. We believe that lay members of our parishes are integral to healthy discipleship in our churches and communities. Thus, we gather followers across congregations to grow in faith together.

Growing In Faith is a series of classes that you can take all in one year or over the course of many years. The courses are offered collaboratively through Zoom with Northwestern Ohio Synod. Each course runs for 5 weeks and costs $65/course + credit card fees.

The following courses will be taught on Thursdays from 6-9pm via Zoom this Spring

Introduction to the New Testament

February 8, 15, 22, 29, March 7

Living as a Christian in the World

March 21, April 4, 11, 18, 25

*no class on Thursday, March 28th - Maundy Thursday*

Lutheran Creeds and Confessions

​May 9, 16, 23, 30, June 6

Prayer concerns will be removed after four weeks unless otherwise requested.

Consent is required for all submissions. Thank you.

These pages are updated every week with new trainings, events,

opportunities, and more! Be sure to check them out.